Ohio Valley Conference

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. - In a vote of Ohio Valley Conference head women’s basketball coaches and communication directors, Lindenwood has been picked the preseason favorites for the 2025-26 season.
 
The Lions earned six of 22 first-place votes (teams could not vote for themselves) to receive 179 total points. The runner-ups from a year ago edged out the defending regular season and tournament champions, Tennessee Tech, who claimed 12 first-place votes and 175 points.

Western Illinois picked up the final four first-place votes for third (receiving 166 points) while Southern Indiana garnered 166 points for third. Eastern Illinois was tabbed fifth (121 points) and are followed by UT Martin (117), Little Rock (110), Tennessee State (78) and Southeast Missouri (51). and Lindenwood (81). Morehead State (33) and SIUE (33) round out the selections.

Lindenwood finished 23-11, 16-4 in OVC play, last year and enter the 2025-26 campaign behind four returning starters, including All-OVC selections Ellie Brueggemann (12.0 ppg) and Brooke Coffey (10.9). The duo will be joined by OVC Watch List members Mya Skoff (9.6 ppg) and Gracie Wernli (10.5 ppg). All four enter their junior seasons for the Lions.

TTU are led by All-OVC selection Reghan Grimes (12.8 ppg) and Watch List members Chloe Larry (11.5 ppg) and Reagan Hurst (medical-redshirt 2024-25; 8.8 ppg 2023-24).

WIU boasts four starters, led by All-OVC honorees Raegan McCowan (22.3 ppg) and Mia Nicastro (15.3 ppg), as well as Watch List selections Addie Brownfield (8.5) and Allie Meadows (7.6).

The season will conclude with the 2026 OVC Basketball Championships presented by United Fidelity Bank (March 4-7), which will be held at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana for the ninth-straight season